Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Location

Abstract

A mobile IP location server that retrieves the location of a mobile device based on the public IP address that a mobile device is using. A mobile IP location server comprises a mobile location protocol interface, an identifier resolver, and a location manager. The mobile location protocol interface interacts with location applications and receives and responds to location requests. The identifier resolver converts a device's public IP address to a real mobile identifier (e.g. MSISDN) and performs address conversion by either interacting with an HTTP proxy server or querying a network address translation (NAT) table. The location manager retrieves the location of a mobile device given the device's real mobile identifier (e.g. MSISDN). A web application requests mobile IP location services by transmitting an IP request to the mobile IP location server. An IP location request contains a mobile device's public IP address, port number, and any application specific information.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A mobile Internet Protocol (IP) location server, comprising:
 a mobile location protocol interface configured to receive a request for location information for a mobile device;   an identifier resolver configured to query a given network node operating on a given network for a mobile identifier that uniquely identifies the mobile device based on a public IP address included in the location request; and   a location manager configured to query another network node operating on another network for location information for the mobile device based on the mobile identifier of the mobile device.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 2 , wherein the mobile identifier comprises at least one of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN). 
     
     
         4 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 2 , wherein the given network node operating on the given network comprises a network address translation (NAT) gateway. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 4 , wherein the given network comprises a WiFi network. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 5 , wherein the other network comprises a wireless carrier network. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 4 , wherein the other network comprises at least one of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and a 4G network. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 2 , wherein the location information characterizes a municipal area in which the mobile device is located. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 2 , wherein the given network node operating on the given network comprises a proxy server for the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile IP location server of  claim 9 , wherein the other network comprises a wireless carrier network. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) location request for geographic location information associated with a mobile device;   querying a given network node for a real mobile identifier corresponding to a public IP address assigned to the mobile device in response to the IP location request; and   querying another network node operating on a long term evolution (LTE) network for geographic location information associated with the mobile device based on the real mobile identifier.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the geographic location information characterizes a municipal area in which the mobile device is located. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the real mobile identifier comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the real mobile identifier comprises Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the given network node comprises a network address translation (NAT) gateway operating on a Wifi network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the given network node operates on the LTE network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the given network node comprises a proxy server for the mobile device operating on a Wifi network. 
     
     
         18 . A mobile Internet Protocol (IP) location server comprising one or more computers having machine readable instructions, the location server being configured to:
 provide a request to a given network node operating on a given network for a mobile identifier that uniquely identifies a mobile device based on an IP address of the mobile device in response to a location request for the mobile device; and   provide a request for location information for the mobile device based on the real mobile identifier for the mobile device to another network node operating on another network.   
     
     
         19 . The location service of  claim 18 , wherein the given network comprises a Wifi network. 
     
     
         20 . The location service of  claim 19 , wherein the other network comprises a wireless carrier network. 
     
     
         21 . The location service of  claim 20 , wherein the other network comprises at least one of a 3G and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.